Penrose

Penrose VFW brings in about $10,000 for homeless veterans

Volunteers and members of the Penrose VFW Post 2788 and its auxiliary collect funds from motorists Sunday at Steinmeier and U.S. 50 to go toward helping homeless veterans and other similar causes. This year's effort garnered about $10,000. Pictured are Danny Daffron, Cat Kerstiens, PFC Patrick Fahey, Amariah Kerstiens, 7, and Tim Zade. (Carie Canterbury / Daily Record)

For the fourth consecutive year, volunteers and members of the Penrose VFW Post 2788 and its auxiliary spent the weekend collecting funds from motorists at Steinmeier and U.S. 50 to go toward helping homeless veterans and other similar causes.

"We help not only homeless veterans and coalitions, but we divvy the money up between different establishments," he said, including the Bruce McCandless Veterans Community Living Center in Florence, a PTSD program based in Pueblo, Fort Lyon, a rehabilitative transitional housing facility for homeless people in Las Animas, Crawford House in Colorado Springs and the Cañon Literacy Center.

"As a veterans' organization, it's not just about our vets, it's about the community that supports us that we take care of, that we live in — they accept us, and we always want to give back to them," Pederson said.

In previous years, the effort garnered $6,000; $8,000; and $13,000, consecutively, in addition to clothing and food items.

The VFW also uses supplies and funds to help homeless veterans living in camps in the mountains that are unknown to the general population.

"You usually have to have a homeless individual take you out to them, they are very tight communities out there," Pederson said. "We try to get out to those type individuals. If anyone in need contacts us at our VFW post, we help get items to them, toiletries, and things of that nature."

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Because the weather the last few days has been pleasant, the group didn't receive as many coats as in previous years.

"When we're out here in the snow, it's amazing how many jackets pour in," he said. "But being the fourth year, everybody's cleaned out their closets already. Money does more anyway because we can buy what's necessary for those people."

About a dozen veterans slept at the site Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in makeshift cardboard shelters. They rely on the community for blankets and food.

"We're not allowed to bring our own food out here because a homeless individual doesn't have a refrigerator he can rely on," Pederson said. "When we show up, we're allowed to bring a bag of peanuts, a bottle of water, a sleeping bag and a cardboard box. We rely on the community to feed us."

Volunteers also took turns during the daytime hours collecting change and cash from motorists.

PFC Patrick Fahey of the National Guard previously had given money toward the cause, but this year, he also donated a good portion of his time.

"I'm trying to become a member of the VFW, and I wanted to give back to all my brothers and sisters," he said. "A lot of people thanked us for our service, and a lot of prior service people gave money, as well."

Tom and Cat Kerstiens and their daughter, Amariah Kerstiens, 7, helped collect donations, brought hot breakfast and coffee Sunday and donated handmade challenge coins to the former military personnel.

"We just wanted to tell the guys we appreciate them because we have a soft side for vets, because we are vets," Cat said. "We like to contribute to the community, and we want our daughter to establish a sense of gratefulness. Not everybody is always so fortunate, and I wanted her to see that."

Because of similar events, Pederson said people across the county are becoming more and more aware of the plight of homeless veterans.

"Finally, we're seeing a decline in homeless veterans," he said. "We used to see such a large number, and now we're seeing it going down all the time because the awareness is going out to the American public, and they don't want to see their veterans that way. This community here is so giving, for such a small city, for us to be able to raise that kind of money just standing out there panhandling is amazing."

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